http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/08/20/japan-to-push-its-whiz-bang-handsets-overseas/ Engadget Mobile Comments for Japan to push its whiz-bang handsets overseas http://mobile.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://mobile.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/08/20/japan-to-push-its-whiz-bang-handsets-overseas/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/08/20/japan-to-push-its-whiz-bang-handsets-overseas/
What I am looking for is the great design of some of those handsets. DoCoMo and KDDI make some pretty slick phones...]]>Aug 20th 2008 5:22AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/08/20/japan-to-push-its-whiz-bang-handsets-overseas/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/08/20/japan-to-push-its-whiz-bang-handsets-overseas/
don't get me wrong, there's some great technology at work here and some of the online services are great -- but recently i've wondered if Japan should be importing more devices available in places like the US or Europe, instead of the other way around.]]>Aug 20th 2008 5:35AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/08/20/japan-to-push-its-whiz-bang-handsets-overseas/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/08/20/japan-to-push-its-whiz-bang-handsets-overseas/
I travel between the US and Japan very often and could have purchased any phone for use on Softbank/DoCoMo and ATT/T-Mobile. While I am an avid user of Suica/Ikoka card (RFID card used in paying train fares and for goods at most covience and department stores) I also have an overwhleming need for a smartphone. Most Japanese phones are in that gray area between feature phones and smartphones, and include things like mobile suica, one-seg TV, GPS, and of course are all 3G. But once I bring that phone over to the States, Its only good for basic phone calls, web browsing and SMS/MMS. Even some of those don't work without monkeying around with settings depending on network. With my TYTN2, I am able to use the GPS still (google maps works all over the world as long as you have a data connection-- and I have TomTom here and Navitime for Japan) I can view Internet TV (Orb works wherever... ) and I have the added convience of being able to use wi-fi in places-- in Japan data is charged by the packet and its easy to get a high bill. I can then use skype and call back to the US or over to Japan.

What really needs to happen is for Japan to embrace smartphone culture and innovate just as it did with flipphones 6 years ago. Integrate the same tech (mobile Suica, location-based services, mobile video) and come up with compelling designs. This to me would be the way to go... ]]>Aug 20th 2008 9:58AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2008/08/20/japan-to-push-its-whiz-bang-handsets-overseas/http://mobile.engadget.com/2008/08/20/japan-to-push-its-whiz-bang-handsets-overseas/Aug 20th 2008 3:16PM